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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/05/2010 : 20:19:29

I'm curious how many of you sail at night? Especially those that live along the coast or bays. I worry about single-handing at night on the bay.

Anyone hear much about people being harrassed or attacked while out at night? Anyone carry a weapon for protection?

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GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2010 : 20:51:13

We go out after dark fairly regularly. I posted a blog entry on our annual night race last year, adn will be doing this years "overnight" on Saturday. We aren't on the ocean, but night sailing tends to meet one of two extremes for me. It is either absolutely magical or very dangerous. Never anything in between.

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2010 : 21:14:24

I've sailed at night a few times. When you talk about being harassed, are you talking about pirates

There are very few folks on the water at night. There are bigger dangers than being harassed. Running into things or things running into you are probably on the top of the list. Getting lost is a close second (its very odd how there are all those lights out there both distracting from the navigation aids and looking so much like each other

)
Before you try it single handed, you should try night sailing with another crew on board to see what its like and probably in an area you know well.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 05:10:05

In college, I crewed on a professor's boat in a night race down the coast(my first race on a cruising sailboat), starting off the municipal pier in St. Petersburg, FL. He was an idiot. He had not charged up his battery and we lost our running lights before we got out of the bay. In the middle of the channel and very light wind around 11 PM, we almost got run down by a freighter. Keep a flashlight handy to shine on the sails, if necessary.
Since then, my only night sailing has been on our lake coming in after dark. No problems.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 05:32:06

I enjoy sailing at night in the Bay here which is a busy boating area. I've seen very few irresponsible nighttime boaters, sailing without lights or driving with too much speed, and have not heard of any criminal activity. I sail single-handed 90% of the time, and since I know the area very well, it is always a joy to get out on the water at night. The C-25 is so easy to handle. I get the spotlight ready at dusk, in case of emergency.

Do you know of cases of harassment or attacks on boaters on the water in your area?

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 05:51:56

I sail at night fairly frequently. Night sailing is not especially difficult, if you have the necessary equipment. Foremost is a chart plotting gps. Whether in daylight or at night, I feel vulnerable if I’m not confident that I know exactly where I am, and that I have enough water under my keel. You also need a powerful light, preferably a spotlight that connects to the boat’s 12 volt battery. Every pfd should have a whistle and a strobe light attached, to aid in locating a MOB in the dark. Crew should wear harnesses and be attached to a jackline, especially if they leave the cockpit. You need to keep an especially keen lookout at night, especially for unlighted boats and other obstructions, and expect the unexpected.

I doubt anyone will likely need a weapon in coastal US waters. I never have, and don’t recall ever hearing of such an incident. I own handguns, and have long believed that most people are more likely to hurt themselves or their loved ones by accident, or to get themselves in trouble with the law, than are likely to protect themselves or their families with a weapon.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 08/06/2010 06:22:10

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 06:26:19

I've only read of one instance in the gulf coast, and the captn defended himself well with a "stovepipe" strike with a can of WD40. It goes to the fact that the "attackers" were weak opportunist rather than strong assailants.

Regardless of your selection of defense, are you an easy target, or an able opponent? A 1mil candle light and laser pointer goes a long way at night. Oh the options....

I can just see someone approaching me when I'm anchored at night, and me raising the pop top and looking out like it's a bunker.

"State your business"

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 06:57:29

I night sail about once a week, in fact we have one planned for tonight. It's almost magical! I hardly ever single hand, that could be dangerous at night. With the temperature as it is here in Texas, night sailing is a better option.

We've never had any problems with rogue boats or people trying to mess with us on the lake. On the contrary, we've had great conversations sailing side by side with folks we've never met.

It's important to be familiar with your surroundings.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 07:45:37

I agree with Steve on the chartplotter--the shore lights can obscure the navaids and be startlingly disorienting. Study your chart beforehand and memorize the colors and flash-patterns of key navaids in the area where you plan to sail. Every "official" lighted navaid flashes to a specified beat, while vessel's lights are steady (with one exception). If you have any commercial traffic in the area, learn the lights for a tug-and-tow so you don't get caught between them--that's a leading cause of fatalities. The barge can be several hundred yards behind the tug, with the hauser running just below the surface.

The potential downside to the chartplotter is that if you rely on it too much to keep track of where you are, your night vision can be compromised (keep it dim), and you might not be watching ahead and to the sides as vigilantly as you should. I'll also recommend against "tunes" when under way... You want all of your senses working for you in the darkness.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1787 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 08:05:01

At least in the Northeast I would not worry about needing to defend yourself while night sailing but I would take caution in other ways. First, I would not want to intentionally sail single handed at night -- too many possible difficulties seeing, fatigue, etc. secondly I would be very familiar with the area you are sailing and/or have up-to-date charts and chartplotter as discussed above.

Edited by - bigelowp on 08/06/2010 08:18:27

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 08:09:23

I night sail frequently and have had some very memorable sails by starlight, including single-handed. It's also a great skill for us workin' folks, because you can squeeze in a sail after work.
The suggestions above are spot on. Be sure to check lunar information. A moonless nightsail is VERY different from one with a moon. It's amazing how different even familiar waters can look at night.
The first time, you may want to have an experienced night sailor on board as crew.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 09:23:48

I'm very familiar with the area I sail and the way the bay is shaped I'm rarely more than a couple of miles from shore. I've sailed after dark 2 or 3 times but not very late.

I agree with all that was said above. I'm not aware of any criminal activity on the bay but not knowing for sure leaves me feeling vulnerable when out after dark. I've had a couple of boats that seemed determined to get close to me even though I was taking action to keep them at a distance. That's what got me to thinking about it.

I don't carry a weapon on board. I do carry a flare gun with plenty of ammo and would use it if the 10 mil candlepower spotlight didn't thwart the situation.

Probably just my paranoia working. I'm probably going out tonight because as Peter points out it's way to hot to go during the day. The winds been better at night the past week or so too.

Edited by - on

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 10:27:13

I sail on an inland lake, so I'm never worried about attacks or crime. When sailing solo at night I keep a spot messenger clipped to my pfd, and I stay harnessed the entire time.
Night sailing is really magical - that's a great word for it. The only other boats on the lake are a few fishing boats and occasionally another sailboat, but I can usually sail for miles and miles without seeing another boat.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1787 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 11:22:37

The harness is one point that really should be highlighted. At night, even with an experienced crew, a harness would seem to me to be THE most important safety device!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 11:59:45

<< THE most important safety device! Night sailing >>

I always thought it was a working strobe pinned/tied to me. Nowadays it might be the laser pointer. Same as with night diving.

http://www.divers-supply.com/Princeton-Tec-Aqua-Strobe-Dive-Light-P1631.aspx

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 12:11:49

I don't get the laser pointer idea... By design, it's invisible except when pointed exactly at somebody's eye, which will only cause temporary blindness and confusion. Ask the commercial pilots who've had it happen to them approaching a runway! You can't see where it's coming from because if it hits you, you can't see, and if it doesn't hit you, you can't see it. A flashlight/floodlight is best, and it should be pointed at your boat and/or sails--not at the guy coming toward you, except as an absolute last resort.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 13:24:18

When you first start sailing at night you will probably find the waves increase by at least 50% as soon as it gets to dark to see them. In reality, it has been some of the most pleasant sailing of my life. Put a little reflective tape on the business end of your boathook, it will make it much easier to pick up your dock lines - that was my wife's suggestion after coming in after dark last week (Why do so many boathooks have black ends?). Wrap one at the base of the fitting where in joins the pole, one at the tip of the fitting, and one on the hook portion of the fitting.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 19:21:26

I get out at night quite a bit too. Just wish they would put lights on all those crab pot buoys!

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 19:54:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tom Potter
 I get out at night quite a bit too. Just wish they would put lights on all those crab pot buoys!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5397 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2010 : 20:58:54

I regularly single hand late in the day, and return after dark on a day sail.

Since I know my "neighborhood" very well (LI Sound from Fairfield/Penfield to New Haven, to Middle Ground and the Housatonic river), the absence of hazards (no reefs further than 1 mile offshore), no shortage of shore lighting, and very distinct "lights" and ATONs all along the way, I don't sweat it.

I do not sail at night in unfamiliar waters however. This happened to me in the Thimble Islands off Branford, CT one October afternoon. Sunset was approx 6:30 PM and I dropped my son off at the dock at 6PM so he could meet up with friends after a sail with Dad.

I wondered - can I make a sprint to Branford Harbor, approx 1 hour away?, or should I simply find a secure hole here between the Granite Islands (big rocks)? I opted to stay put, and found a mooring field with plenty of room to anchor. Safe and sound, or so I thought

Turned out to have selected a spot with protection all around, but none from 210 degrees. And wouldn't you know it, while winds had been out of 120 all day, a 15 knot breeze started at 2200 hours out of 210 and built ALL NIGHT LONG.

My anchor was well dug in and had set my GPS to alarm if I had started to drift, but WOW! I've never been seasick before, but that night was particularly unpleasant!

Getting knocked around at anchor, however, still beat the heck out of grounding on a rock at night, so I guess I made the right decision to stay put. Next time, I will plan better . . . .

If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2010 : 13:33:06

Although I am intimately familiar with our lake, I NEVER sail at night. We have way too many powerboaters, who go way too fast, having consumed way too many adult beverages.

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frankr
Captain

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256 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2010 : 14:06:24

Offshore night sailing is great - the stars, moon and easy to spot other boats (if they have lights on). Inshore in congested water - very difficult to pick out the navigation bouys from all the shoreline crap.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2010 : 18:49:21

Holy Fricken hail Mary and hold my biscuits.

Last night was our night race, and I headed out thinking of this thread. expected I was going to have my first "boring" sail at night. Left the bay doing 1.5 - 3 knots under light winds. Hit the lake doing 1.5 - 3 knots under light winds and cloud cover. On the run I swapped out a larger headsail to get some traction since speed had dropped to 0.5 knots under a steady breeze.

10 minutes later I'm doing 3 knots and thinging "that worked nicely" as the sun dropped under the horizon.
30 minutes later I'm hitting 5.5 and thinking this isnt so bad after all. Munched on canapes and thought how I should have brought crew along.
50 minutes later I;m getting surfy hitting hull speed and having a blast, starting to wonder how I'll reduce sail with this much speed up.
70 minutes in and its definately time to take down teh 155% and go with teh 110%, but I can't leave the tiller since the boat wants to slide sideways down the waves.
90 minutes later the whisker pole snaps, wrapping itself around a stay, and grabbing the headsail, pinning it to the stay with it.
110 minutes later, I'm crashing up and down, burying the bow in waves trying to get to any harbour and get the heck outta there. Radioed teh RC that I was abandoning race, adn headed home.

There were about 40 boats in the race, and word out today is that only 1 was able to get a sailchange done. Some dropped their sails but couldn't raise new ones. Dodging the other boats was a hazard not to be trifled with when conditions hit rock bottom out there. you never knew whether they actually had control of their boats, or were trying to get things to work. Not a power boat in sight though - only the folks in the regatta.

Sailflow did not record windspeeds so I can't give anything accurate, but spray was coming off wavetops, and with the wave period and amplitude top speed for Iris was only around 4.8 - 5.3 when pointing. (Steep chop) Wind was out of the South-west.

Once again, an exciting night sail.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2010 : 19:17:43

I never made it our Friday night. Had a really rough day at work on Friday and just wanted to get home. I was going to go last night and today and it was just to freakin hot to even think about it.

To me, this is the hottest summer I can remember. Might be because I'm getting older, I sit in an air conditioned office all week, and I'm 50 pounds over weight!

I can't wait for fall.

Edited by - GaryB on 08/08/2010 19:18:13

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2010 : 05:09:54

I got a bit of a night sail in on Friday, winds were very light. We took the C-27. I used my AC for the first time as we slept on Stephanos before the mast project. We wanted to start early before it got to hot. No luck with that.Saturday morning we unstepped my mast in the slip. It was brutal. We got it down and called it a day.

Yesterday, I snuck in a quick sail with forum member djdurret, who was helping me with my project. With the 155 up and a full main, we managed to bury the rail on "Wench Wagon." I've got to admit, I like the simplicity of his rig compared to my C-25. Nice, clean and simple, almost like a dinghy. This was my first sail on a different C-25.

After our quick sail, we got smart and used the marina crane to raise my mast back up. I was putting my boat back together until about 8:30 last night. All this sweat and agony to replace two $6 mast head sheaves. You got to love boat ownership.

Now it's off to work. GaryB, I agree it was hotter than hell this weekend. Once you get past the breakwater, it cools off pretty nicely.No such option when your doing this kind of work on your boat. Lots of water and gatorade.

Edited by - PCP777 on 08/09/2010 05:16:20

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2010 : 06:37:44

Night sailing is great ..just start with a warm light wind night
and full moon ..gps /check the weather too !!

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